Plaintiff Caleb H. is the latest hip replacement patient to file a lawsuit against Biomet Orthopedics LLC and related companies allegedly responsible for a defective Zimmer hip implant. Caleb says that he was not appropriately warned about the possibilities of pain with the metal on metal hip system.

The lawsuit argues that the Zimmer hip implant suffers from severe defects because of excessive amounts of chromium and cobalt which corrode and wear from the surfaces of the femoral head, the taper sleeve and the acetabular cup, leading to total hip implant failure.

Furthermore, he claims the alleged defects in this hip implant cause the surrounding bone and tissue to die and may require patients to undergo costly and painful surgeries to remove the failed device.

The plaintiff says in his lawsuit that he was never told that the Zimmer hip implant had an unreasonably high chance of failing inside his body nor that he would have to face a possibility of risky surgery, if and when the device did fail.

The lawsuit says that the device not only failed but was not appropriately tested by the defendants before being placed on the market.

Patients and physicians have relied on the marketing materials shared by the manufacturer of this hip device to make decisions about when to have it implanted in a person who needs a hip replacement. However, after the fact, some of these patients have to have the hip device removed entirely. Caleb’s lawsuit argues that the company failed to tell them about the possibility of these problems.

Hip replacement surgery is typically an option when non-surgical interventions like the use of a cane, a walking aid or medication physical therapy are no longer assisting with alleviating a patient’s pain.

According to Zimmer Biomet’s website, other symptoms that a patient might need hip replacement surgery include pain after extensive use, aching in the joint, loss of mobility, joint stiffness, loss of sleep and pain that seems to increase when in humid weather.

Unfortunately, many patients who think they are going through hip replacement surgery to resolve their issues might learn after the fact that they have suffered serious side effects.

The Food and Drug Administration points out that some of the less severe side effects with a metal on metal hip implant include changes in your ability to walk, local swelling, numbness or hip pain. Contacting the surgeon who implanted the device as soon as possible can help a patient to figure out the treatment choices available to them.

A patient might discover at this point in time upon reporting their concerns to their doctor that they have developed significant or disabling problems that mean the device has to be removed entirely. This surgery comes with its own set of risks and can cause additional pain and recovery periods for the affected patient.

The Zimmer Hip Implant Lawsuit is Case No. 2:19-cv-00047-DBP, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, Salt Lake Division.